Headlight for automobiles.



J. M. HIXON.

HEADLIGHT POR AUTOMDBILES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1911. 1,01 9,961 Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

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I. M. HIXON. READLIGHT FOR AUTOMOBILES. APYLXCATION HLBD'MAY 1, 1911.

1,019,961, Patent-,ed Mar. 12, v1912.

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Qmwma f v M J'OSEPH M. HIXON, OF ATTICA, INDIANJ- HEADLIGHT FOR AUTOIVIOBILES.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Appicatio'n filed May 1, 1911.

. Patented Mar." 1.2 191e. seria1No.e24,2vs. i

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l', .Tosarrr M. HIXON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Attica., in the county of Fountain and State of Indiana., have invented certain new and useful improvements in Headlights for Automobiles, ot which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to headlights for automobiles or like vehicles, and has for an object to prox-'ide a headlight which will automaticallyT turn in the direction of the road at curves on corresponding movement of the vehicle steering gear.

Another object. of the invention is to provide means whereby when two of such headlights are used upon the vehicle both may be made to turn siinultaneously and further, the construction of said means which will permit the headlight to swing only on certain movements or adjustments of the steering gear according to the taste of the operator as may be found most serviceable acco'rding to the condition of the road-bed on which the vehicle is traveling.

Janother objectl of the invention is to provide means for automatically returning the headlight to its normal position after the vehicle has again been directed to the plane road and which will also operate to pre-s vent Wabbling of the light when thevehicle is traveling in a straight path.

In the drawings, forming a portion ot this speciication and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several viewsz-Figure 1 is a top plan View of a portion of .an automobile frame showing my improved headlight applied thereto, and indicating in full lines the normal position of the headlight and in dotted lines the ad justed position thereof on turning operation of the steering gear. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the headlight detached from the vehicle. Fig. 3 isa vertical section through the headlight. Fig. 4 is a section on lthe line 4.--11- ot Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

While it is desirable to use the present invention on suoli vehicles as automobiles or the like, it will be understood that it will be found' equally as desirable and eifective 1f used upon locomotives, or like carriers.

yThe headlight shown herein is attached to the frame of the automobile A, and as illustrated, two of said lights are preferably employed and are mounted on the side bars B at the front of the trame. With particular reference to Figs. 2te e inclusive of the drawings,vthe light includes a-'stationary base member 1 which has a bracket portion 2 to be secured in any suitable Well known manner tothe bar B. This basfe member is provided with burnertube 3 infivhich is fitted a suitable tip 4, it being understood, however, that l do not limitthe invention to the use of a gas burner, as the ordinary electric light may-be readily substituted therefor Without departing from the invention. A circular disk 5 is formed integral with -the base member, and above said disk, the tube 301 the member is provided With4 a horizontal shoulder 6. An adjustable retaining nut 7 on the tube operates to hold the supporting `plate 8 against'accidental displacement. 'l A hood or lamp casing 9 embraces the disk 5 and the member 8, and as shown, elongated `horizontal slots 10 are formed in the casing through which the retaining devices lloflthe supporting member 8 are extended. Retractile springs 12 are secured 4at 13 tothe disk 5 and at la, the springs are secured to the supporting member 8 so as to exert their tension to hold the light normally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the frame A of "he vehicle.

The headlightsshoivn'in Fig. 1- of the drawings'each has secured lto the casing or hood a bracket arm 15 havinga horizontally disposed guide slot 16 therein for va purpose to be hereinafter described'. A member 1T is slidable longitudinally on 'thel bracket arm 15, and as illustrated, 4said member isadapted to be held in its adjusted position on the arm by the set screws 18.. A sleeve 19 is pivotally 4mounted in the member 17 by the bearing screws 20, the said sleeve having therein a leather lined opening 21 for the passage therethrough of the actuating rod 22. Companion adjusting collars 23 and 24 are slidably mounted on the rod 2Q, the collar 23 being disposed in front of the member 17 and the collar 24 being disposed at the rear of said member. Set screws or other suitable Well known fastening devices 25' serve to hold the 'collars intheir adjusted positions on the rod as will be understood.

The steering rod 26 shown in Fig. 1 ot the drawings has its end portions pivot'ally connected at27 to the arms 28 of the Wheel posts 29,' and adjacent to said a.rmstl1e rod 26 has justment of the steering mechanism.

portilins slidably connected with the arms ofthe bell crank levers 3l. These levers4 light, it beinl'g'obvious that W en the collarl 24 is adjuste so as to lie relatively close to the lmember 17, the movements of the rod 26 i and the headlight will be substantially simultaneous. Then Vthe collar is adjusted to lie some distance behind the member 17, the light will only be --sensitive to movement onconsiderable adjustment of the steering rod. From the construction described,

means are employed, whereby the lamps 'may be made to swing rapidly or slowly; or one light can. be adjusted to respond instantaneously on movement of the steering gear while the other light can be adjusted to respond to only considerable adjustment of Y the steering gear..

1. A headlight comprising. a' stationary lamp portion provided with an attaching bracket, a diskearried thereby, a supporting late revolubly mounted on the stationary amp portion and arranged above said disk, a lamp casing carried lby the p1ate,`a reilector ,carried by and movable with the casing, retractile springs connecting the disk and plate', an arm extending from the casing, and means connected with said arm for turning the casing against the resistance of said springs.

2. A headlight comprising a Y fxedlyv mounted lamp member, a'movable reflector thereon, an arm extending from the re- Hector, a member adjustable longitudinally on the arm, and actuating means operatively connected with the arm-carried member and including relatively adjustable portions located at opposite sides of the said arm-carried-.member.

3. A headli ht comprising a base member, a tube t ereon, a support revolubly mounted on the tube, elastic means connecting the base member with the support to normall ment on th the support, and means for moving the support against the 'tension of the elastic means.

4, A headlight comprising a base member, a revolubly mounted reflector thereon, a'slotted arm secured to the rei-lector, and an actuating member extending through hold the former against movethe slotted arm and adjustable longitudi-4 nally thereon and including relatively adjustable portions disposed at opposite sides of the arm.

5. A .headlight including a revolubly mounted reflector, an arm thereon, a memlber mounted for' longitudinal adjustment on the arm, an actuating rod slidable through the adjustable member, and relaA tively adjustable members on the actuating Ilo 4 I 6. A headlight including a revolubly mounted reflector, a slotted arm thereon, a member adjustable longitudinally on the arm, a movable member carried by the ad justable member, and an actuating rod exs tending through the movable member and through the arm and including means. forcontacting with the rarm Aon movement of the rod to revolve the reflector. i

In testimony whereof I aiX-my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' JOSEPH M. HIXON. Witnesses:

MARK O. SMITH, L. THoMreoN` Copies o! this patent may be obtained f or ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C.

e latter, a reflector carried by 

